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An important part of lesbianism that is portrayed in the novel by Hall is the strong magnetism felt by Stephen to have more manly mannerisms. From the start, she is uncomfortable acting weak or passive, especially in physical activities. At the age of 8 her father gives Stephen her first horse as a gift; she refuses to ride sidesaddle. She picks up riding astride with little difficulty. A couple years after picking up riding she decides it is also important to her to be in excellent physical conditions. She lifted weights constantly and learned fencing. Like riding horses, she picked up fencing very rapidly. Mademoiselle Duphot, her tutor watched her fence and remarked "She fence like a man, with such power and such grace." (Well of Loneliness p.58) That was not the last time that she was regarded by others as manly in appearance or action. Another important lesbian trait that Stephen demonstrates is having the physical appearance of a man rather than a woman. Throughout the book she is not regarded as beautiful or ugly even. Instead, Stephen is constantly described as almost hansom. At age 17 Stephen is depicted as "handsome in a flat, broad-shouldered and slim flanked fashion." (Well of Loneliness p. 72) She picked up very quick on her manly physique and chose to wear male fashion rather than female fashion. She wore men's suits and hated to wear dresses.
Like many other lesbians in the novel, Stephen feels uncomfortable and out of place when adorned with feminine clothing or styles. She feels imprisoned when she wears the dresses that her mother Anna buys for her. An important point that is made for the first third of the novel is the contempt that is felt by Stephen for her long feminine hair. She doesn't feel that it fits her face and it is a constant burden to her. At ten years of age, when Stephen first picks up fencing, is the first debate over her hair. One afternoon she pleaded with her father: "But it mightn't if I cut off my hair! May I cut off my hair? Oh, do let me, Father!" (Well of Loneliness p.
